According to The Daily Caller, a longtime Biden aide told Thompson that White House staff rationalized doing “undemocratic things” out of fear that Donald Trump posed an “existential threat to democracy.” The admission is fueling debate over whether partisan beliefs have trumped democratic norms at the highest levels of government.
Thompson’s reporting exposes a mindset within Biden’s inner circle, where certain unelected staffers saw themselves as the real decision-makers. Their rationale, as described on national television, has conservatives and critics questioning the legitimacy of the administration’s decision-making process.
Staffers take charge behind closed doors
During his appearance, Thompson recounted how Biden’s aides shielded him from scrutiny and managed the presidency largely out of public view. He explained that access to Biden was tightly controlled by a select group of staffers, who determined who could speak to the president and when.
One quote from the unnamed Biden aide captured the attitude: “When you’re voting for president, you’re voting for the aides around him.” This statement underlines concerns about unelected officials wielding unchecked power, especially when the elected president’s public appearances are limited.
Thompson also reported that a senior staffer admitted, “He’d only have to show proof of life every once in a while. His aides could pick up the slack.” The implication is clear: staffers acted as gatekeepers, filtering information and shaping Biden’s schedule to suit their own agenda.
Existential threat justification
The justification for these actions, according to Thompson’s sources, was rooted in a deep-seated belief that Trump represented a unique danger to American democracy. Many staffers, he said, sincerely believed that the stakes justified extraordinary measures.
“If you believe — and I think a lot of these people do sincerely believe — that Donald Trump was and is an existential threat to democracy, you can rationalize anything, including sometimes doing undemocratic things,” Thompson told Fox News’ Shannon Bream.
Alex Thompson told Shannon Bream,
If you believe — and I think a lot of these people do sincerely believe — that Donald Trump was and is an existential threat to democracy, you can rationalize anything, including sometimes doing undemocratic things.
This mindset has sparked debate about the dangers of rationalizing undemocratic behavior, even in the name of “saving democracy.” Critics argue that such thinking opens the door to abuses of power by unelected officials.
Critics and defenders speak out
Conservative commentators are seizing on the revelations as proof that the Biden administration operated in a manner inconsistent with democratic principles. They say the idea of “saving democracy” cannot justify undemocratic conduct from those in government.
Some, like independent Senator Bernie Sanders, have voiced concerns about the Democratic Party’s direction. In a related segment, Sanders agreed with the notion that Democrats themselves could be seen as a “threat to democracy,” highlighting fractures within the party.
Others defend the staffers’ motives, claiming that the unprecedented political climate under Trump required bold action. They argue that the existential threat posed by Trump’s rhetoric and policies warranted unusual measures to protect democratic institutions.
Questions raised about transparency
Thompson’s reporting also sheds light on the extent to which Biden’s public presence was managed by his aides. Critics contend that voters were not fully aware of how much control was exercised by unelected staffers during Biden’s presidency.
Transparency advocates warn that such arrangements undermine the principle of accountability. When decisions are made by those not chosen by the American people, trust in government suffers — especially when those actions are later described as “undemocratic.”
